Travis Picking is Easy!

[@GradyElla]

Travis Picking or any finger picking, including playing classical pieces, involves exactly what you describe as a sequential series of steps that lead you into proficiency. Can I simply add that the other factor in getting good at this is DAILY practice!! This is what is called an "acquired skill." Very few of us are savants and if we were, we wouldn't be here. So along with this great lesson in finger style right hand technique, one need to exhibit the dedication and determination to make it past the learning stage into the performance stage. Practice, practice practice! Are you still here? Why aren't you practicing?

[@jimmy2minutes]

My brother is a Savant. We found out when his violin teacher said he was the best in the school, and we had never seen a violin. Then l left my guitar in the house and when l picked it up he had tuned it, and had no idea how to do it. So l took him to my guitar lesson, and 1st lesson the teacher said " every now and again l get a kid that can do it!" He could read music and play ? WTF??? He was 11 years old. He just knew how to read music without a single clue

[@edwardbailes9288]

Thank you for the excellent demonstration. I have been using the "how not to" technique for years, with all the problems that you enumerated. Your preamble demonstrating the correct right hand technique worked wonders within the first few minutes. Brilliant! Thanks!

[@petegalloway2466]

Great lesson and advice. Certainly something to aspire to. Started playing at 49, two years in and finally feel like I’m getting there, thanks to tutorials like this. Thank you 🙏🏻☺️

[@achmadhidayat9611]

Finally I can play this finger Style.. Thank you for sharing

[@P4flats]

The* thumbs up * tip for hand position is a real deal!!! I've had problems with my right hand when trying to learn F.P. & this brings it all into focus. It'a almost like the thumb has to be kept ahead of the rest of the hand like you are wearing a thumb pick. This keeps all digits in the correct channel or column, & not in the same column as the thumb. It also keeps you picking with the finger tip rather than too much to the side of the finger. This is HUGE ! I'll keep working on your whole video. Thanks so much. B.

[@dareelantonio.3056]

Easily the best tutorial on Travis picking. I often come back to this video cause once you’ve nailed it you think to yourself wow it really is easy 😂

[@dirkmoolman]

One of the best videos I've seen so far on Travis picking. And thank you for tip 1, the thumbs up position 👍

[@tomkay2034]

Well done clear and concise, Alex. Oftentimes the expert forgets how complex even simple stuff is for the beginner.

[@renatoramos8759]

E FCCa m E

[@zenusalfa]

Thanks, this is adding value to my finger picking. It feels much better than before

[@burtclarke6942]

Man, I'm glad I found this video. Great lessons! Thanks!

[@blessedwithchallenges9917]

Thank you, excellent advice! I've been playing 20 years and have a few sloppy/bad habits Travis picking is helping me overcome. You and Paul Davis both have different, but very helpful approaches. I appreciate you taking the time to share!

[@redsoxyeargmail]

Haha! I just came here from the Paul video, and I thought it was awesome, but wanted a different perspective, and you are absolutely right!

[@thomascurran9807]

Great clear, lesson! Thank you very much for posting.

[@camperstar6stringer]

Thanks. Well thought out lesson. Hello from Asia.

[@JT-bd6rj]

Very good lesson for finger picking. Concise, accurate, and detailed. Thank you! God Bless you, your family, and all the viewers on this channel and their family also!

[@elisabethminet4676]

God bless you too 😊🎸🇫🇷

[@_Cryptotruth_]

Been looking at different videos on Travis picking,I picked this as the best lesson I’ve found…

[@Mrader1983]

Nice. Thanks for holding my hand through this. 🎉

[@leonardocannone8349]

AWESOME LESSON! You cleared up a lot of questions, THANK YOU. You are an excellent teacher.

[@SuperJoooe]

What questionsvdid he clean up? He is def a great player, but he is not teaching travis picking at all in this video, this is finger picking, major diferences

[@13Pacheco13]

Dude, the hand position tip was on point. Thanks!

[@sammyl2071]

You are a great teacher. Best Lesson I ever seen on youtube. Thanks so much

[@URockMusicCenterMcMurray]

Thank you!

[@Feverdream7777]

I'm a very advanced shredder, but I never learned finger picking at all. This was EXACTLY what I needed; to hear that it's only a few binary options beyond the thumb alternating the bass notes.. I'm so happy I came across your lesson. Thank you!

[@martinjanca4674]

Thank you so much for the great tutorial 🍻 👏👏👏👏👏

[@captainhennahead2323]

I’m 30 days into learning guitar, have been practicing daily in split 15 minute sessions. I’m totally adding this technique!! Thank you!!

[@thecompilationcity6063]

Maybie the picking "patteren" is easy but over all style is very complex with Merle's own chords and syncopation.

[@Frisson391]

This is awesome, so wished had seen this video before begin. Your so on point it’s simple but hard to break old habit. Focusing on just the thumb string changes actually harder than some slightly more difficult riffs, but the speed would have never gotten where I want it without doing this first. So glad I found your channel today. I think this is going to be a really big point . I even got out the metronome.

[@YelMoe719]

Thanks for the tutorial it really helped me☺ greeting from Borneo Indonesia

[@norriehunter7436]

Best lesson ive had thank you bro

[@jj8526]

Fantastic concise tutorial...👍

[@cyrilharris]

you are a good teacher, thanks

[@tommore3263]

Very good.. and very encouraging... :)

[@sandradee888]

Great video. Thanks!

[@shadowcircus]

Great video! Funny, I've been fingerpicking for years, but didn't get that thumb position solved until recently. It really makes a world of difference! For players who learned the wrong way for a long time, it takes a bit of effort to re-train, but it's worth it.

[@URockMusicCenterMcMurray]

Yeah, when I'm teaching lessons it's always one of the things I try to emphasize right at the beginning because it really solves a lot of consternation later on.

[@MichaelMarshall-lt7wh]

A very good lesson , you use the C chord with the Thumb then finger 2 Thumb then 1 finger i like that pattern but can you tell me what fingers i use on the likes of the D chord is it Thumb on the 4th string finger 2 on the 1st string then thumb on the 3rd string and 1st finger on the second string .

[@310glendo]

For another good one watch tommy emanuel's fingerstyle masterclass video. He demonstrates a few excersizes that get your fingers to work more independently from your thumb

[@casilatino]

Great video! Your fingers remind me of a crab walking when you get going fast. The fingernail info was nice to know.

[@michaelhunter4891]

Thank you for the lesson. I will be learning the Fisherman and Dust in the Wind.

[@billhess8912]

L

[@Po1itica11yNcorrect]

Simple, he says. Maybe for an intermediate or above. But it's something to practice I guess. Thanks for the lesson. Thumbs up for that.

[@lukethedrifter4622]

Have you used the speed setting to slow the video down so you can watch the fingers in slow mo? I use full scree and slow mo. But I have been playing guitar for many years and this picking pattern has eluded me for a long time LOL

[@TristanBellerive]

Maybe this helps kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJWbeGylgNWMhMk

[@cindycisneros9967]

Thank you 🥰

[@allenhyer]

Merle Travis used his thumb and index finger to produce his amazing sound. Rev. Gary Davis played in a similar manner.

[@drspago]

Thumbs up on the thumbs up! Big help for Travis picking...

[@russellnewton6660]

Pickles017 👍

[@runningwithscissors0911]

Thank you for this good, easy to understand and follow lesson. Proper hand position and nail length and care most helpful. Thank you!

[@anuncolonizedmind6296]

U are right it is easy, I'm 7 months into learning guitar. I didn't know what Travis picking was until yesterday. I want to learn landslide by Stevie Nicks,it came so naturally to me. I think I have found my playing style, thanks for the video!

[@debraarnold3703]

That's the best tutorial I've gotten so far. (Teach me how to read the tabs for that.) Well done, son.

[@alangriff1]

A great lesson on Travis picking. Dare I say that it's not be easy for some people. I sure don't find it easy. its all about getting the correct sequence for thumb and fingers. If you've been playing this picking method for a long time then yes it is easy.

[@michellewiklund8831]

Thank you this cleared up a lot and he’s making it easier to learn

[@kenyonfennell5003]

Thanks. I enjoyed your video.

[@johnpulwers680]

Do you think the Tele is best over the Strat & Les Paul if you could just have one electric guitar?

[@nicholasscott1206]

seriously clear, straightforward, and digestible. thank you.

[@dondelorme1752]

I belivee you might want to look into the different styles between Chet Atkins and Merle Travis picking. Chet's is an alternating bass. Travis was just a thump thump thump on the bass strings.

[@marius11101]

he is forgetting the two most importent things, the muting of the lower strings and the ankerd pinky as well

[@johnj.flanagan-hymnsoffaith]

Thank you, great instructional video.

[@mitchfortson8413]

Nice thx I will work on this love fingerstyle. Nice guitar . Just got me A blueridge Br183A 183A . Good work.

[@josemanuel947]

so easy!! thank you

[@timtaylorguitarnut]

Great explanation and lesson.

[@JohnHWelch63]

Thank you for the lesson. I've been playing guitar since 1976 but I've never practiced any kind of fingerstyle playing. I've always been into playing rock, metal, and blues and using the classic techniques used in those genres like alternate picking, sweep picking, etc. It's funny I can alternate pick like a pro but when I try fingerstyle I profoundly suck! LMAO As I get older I am liking and appreciating softer genres of music and songs like Fleetwood Mac's Landslide and would love to be able to Travis pick so I can play them.

[@louverrone]

Is the ring finger used much in Travis picking?

[@nayaleezy]

13:08 what's the name of song this movement is from?

[@MrMuleA]

From down the road in Washington. Great lesson. Wish i had the tabs for this lesson.

[@URockMusicCenterMcMurray]

Well Im up here giving lessons in you wanna swing by sometime!

[@jasper_north]

Also ankering is important…

[@77777771955]

Need some advice. You appear to use thumb 2,1. Some say thumb 321. Have heard original was thumb 1. Would appreciate your knowledge. Thanks.

[@larrygoforth8543]

You are a very good teacher where are you located at? Also could you show the chord progression for the fisherman? Thx😅

[@URockMusicCenterMcMurray]

Near Pittsburgh

[@Deedianamarie3880]

I'm a beginner I know about 14 chords just started learning I love fingerpicking More than strumming. I do not know any bar-chords. I guess maybe that will come with time. I would like to thank you for all your time and uploading and teaching

[@kaymeeamine3443]

You are awsom man keep going

[@henryleon2709]

Thanks for the lesson

[@lorenvguitar614]

Is there Travis picking that involves the 5th? Or is that players choice. Thank you

[@stephendouglas8741]

Do you have a Travis fingerpicking course. Anyone have any good sources?

[@graemej2599]

You don't state if you are playing thumb + 2 fingers / or thumb + 3 fingers. It seems like you are using the former setup. What are your thoughts on these two playing methods ? Also when fingerpicking, are you using the pinky finger as a hold-down to the guitar sound-board. Would you suggest that is a good idea ?

[@URockMusicCenterMcMurray]

So there’s really almost nothing you can’t play with thumb and 2 fingers but there are just some things I find easier with 3. I think anchoring with your pinky is fine, sole great players do it.

[@robosardine303]

What’s happening with the left hand at 13.08?

[@craigewinger1206]

Do you have the tabs to the patterns taught in this video? I would like to download them. Thanks. Craig Ewinger

[@davidjermy2524]

Great Lesson . Very detailed thank you. 👍

[@GuitSiva]

Good job dude..👏 Thanks for a lovely demo.,on Travis Picking style..👍 Warm cheers 😊 God bless 🙏🎸🎶😊

[@micheleringrose4033]

I’ve been playing fingerstyle for a while now but can’t seem to get rid of the scraping sound the nail of my first finger makes on the third string. I hear it too with your playing but not as intrusive. Any suggestions on how to minimize that sound? I’ve tried various nail shapes and angles of my picking hand. Very nice lesson, right up there with Justin Guitar! Thanks!!

[@emilethrash2670]

have you tried playing in classical position ? plucking the string perpendicularly is how I got rid of it personally.

[@dalgaboyu]

Bravo man :)

[@bobsucks9647]

Easy in concept, not so much in execution 😂 great video helps a ton!

[@MartinReiter143]

The key is repetition of each pattern by itself. Eventually it becomes automatic. And the next step is to consciously and deliberately mix up the patterns. And after that, you will forget that there are patterns at all, and you are just making music.

[@Billsingsong]

Are those all your electric guitars? I don’t see any acoustic guitars on the wall.

[@rcote1234]

Thanks!

[@rigmormortis164]

Really like your vids,cant you do a lesson on Star of the County down/Last mohikan soundtrack,for us mere mortals/best regards Lasse🇸🇪

[@vgrof2315]

Thanks.

[@IDVDalot]

how do you play that nice little melody that started at :43 seconds

[@rockradstone]

If you want the whole song---'The Fisherman' by Leo Kottke.

[@mvppainters911]

Was that "The Fisherman" at 00:45?

May be, but not for the older folk like me... I've been trying to no avail... hahha

[@karenrouth2056]

This is such a great lesson... I would really, hugely appreciate it if you can do this SLOWLY (!!!!!!) changing between chords... just a basic G C D G would be immensely helpful... thank you so much! xx

[@SuperJoooe]

I highly recomend you learning to travis pick elsewhere, Try starting with Marcell Dadi teaches Fuller Blues...this video here is great but it is not in anyway travis picking

[@karenrouth2056]

Joe, thank you so much!

[@SuperJoooe]

Anytime...check out and subscribe to my brand new chanel...search for "guitar rag drummer joe" also check out Thom Bresh he has some teally great stuff

[@karenrouth2056]

Thank you again! So helpful!

[@mrjoeyman]

You can also go to "settings" and slow down the video and see and hear every note.

[@danvitale1642]

Merle played with two fingers, thumb and index

[@lylewilliams1371]

Thank you!

[@robw992000]

How much are the Skype lessons ?

[@thornwivans]

what's the left hand chords

[@CarlWinter-oy8uf]

Why not show that mystery chord you are paying in the first part of the lesson ?

[@FinAlliFights]

Every single day.

[@kaymeeamine3443]

Plz explain the last part its amazing😱😱😱😱😱😱

[@omerfarukbozkurt7736]

Lol. That part was "the real travis picking" with an independent picking thumb😅

[@blumenthol]

Thanks bro - 8 yrs later

[@jasonkeith9317]

Great lesson!!

[@bettybetty3901]

Kindly Be a little bit slower and show us closely where each finger is touching on BOTH hands

[@greghardysmelodiesfromheav4971]

Travis picking has a more syncopated beat or rhythm, it involves having an independent thumb that plays a bass line while simultaneously picking out lead.It involves the thumb doing a boom chuck a boom chicka boom chicka rhythm well simultaneously picking out lead. That's not what this guy is doing He's just doing an ordinary finger-style role.

[@batman48195]

Nice lesson! Thank you! A couple of questions. Does your third finger play the high Estring? And your second finger on the B string? And your first finger always plays the G string? Does your thumb play the E, A and D? Thanks. Brian

[@malcolmbrewer]

You can shift the position of your fingers, do for G chord, but essentially thats a great start point, but you'll find that the better you get at this pattern and others, your fingers will find the best position for the song you are playing. A guitar guru said some something like, ' once you have learned the patterns, it's time to forget them' and so I think he was 'on the money'. It's true that it will all happen naturally, after a while, and muscle memory will kick in and your fingers will do it all for you, and that's a great feeling... I haven't played much for years but it was my living for 18 years, and with covid keeping me locked up now,co sit for hours watching these KZbin videos and my skills are coming back and I've got more skills now than before and it's exciting and motivating for me to use this time to improve myself and inspire others.... Enjoy every minute of your practice.

[@philjohnson4741]

very very helpful, thank you so much !

[@christopherramirez4131]

Nice but could use some charts to follow along.

[@JohnWilson-cs7iq]

You have quite a long thumb. I notice too that you say "It's as easy as that". LOL:). Everything is easy when you know how. I agree with others....you go way too fast for "us beginners". I have always struggled with finger picking & I have tried like hell as it is a beautiful sound. It is like the strings are "singing" the song. It is the thumb placement. I have tried every which way & with the thumb out front as far as you show it, hence my comment about your long thumb, I just can't seem to get it happening. I just "trip " over my fingers. :)

[@glorioskiola]

John Wilson you can slow down KZbin from the settings. Makes it easier.

[@JohnWilson-cs7iq]

@@glorioskiola Thank you Glori. I do do that but it is just my unco fingers not wanting to cooperate....LOL :) I have always struggled with strumming rhythm & playing the chords at the right time & timing to the beat. If I throw in singing it throws me even more. Too much multitasking for this male LOL. So to try getting my individual picking fingers to do what they are supposed to is very hard. Even more so at speed. I must have got kicked out of the class room when god gave out those abilities. Take care, stay safe :)

[@glorioskiola]

John Wilson good luck John. You stay safe also.

[@maxmiguel500]

My sympathies to you . I'm 70 and trying to get the hang of Travis picking . Over our five week lockdown I wanted to come out of it with something ! I got as far as the bass picking , but just recently am giving it another go and am encouraged by sometimes ' getting it ' a bit . Its a bit like learning to dance I think ,,,,It takes a while for it to fall into place ... anyway good luck with it ...keep practising is of course the key .

[@JohnWilson-cs7iq]

@@maxmiguel500 Thank you for the encouragement. Yes practice makes perfect, so they say. It is crazy how some people just have the gift & can pick it up quickly while others of us have to work damn hard & still don't quite get it. I will keep trying though. Cheers :)

[@greghardysmelodiesfromheav4971]

I'm sorry, this is really good finger style picking but it is not Travis picking I'm not sure this guy really knows what Travis picking is. If you want to know what Travis picking sounds like check out Merle Travis Chet Atkins or Tommy Emmanuel.

[@beemanrunning977]

Would love to learn the rendition of The Fisherman you did there.

[@debbant]

You remind me of the guys who say Lindsey Buckingham is fingerpicking wrong. Clasical guitarists, the original finger style guitarists, don't use the thumb position you suggest. While it may work for you, it's not the only and not necessarily the best way. I and many others don't play that way. BTW Merle Travis played his "Travis Picking" with thumb and index finger only.

[@mrjoeyman]

Im curious, is that the way that you play it debbant?

[@kosmokritikos9299]

I have been finger picking for decades. When I tried placing my thumb in relation to my index finger as demonstrated here, my wrist has to be bent at a 45 degree angle. This feels and looks very unnatural and is uncomfortable to hold for any time. If the guitar is held nearly vertically, it is a little easier, but not much. I'm going back to what works for me. Otherwise, a good lesson.

[@CarlWinter-oy8uf]

Can we rest our pinkie on the picking hand-? Supports the picking hand ?--you don't --!